The undercity of Zaun stretched below Piltover like a web of pipes, steam vents, and precarious walkways. The green glow of chemical vats reflected in puddles of oily water, and the distant hum of machinery vibrated through the floor. Flow shimmered faintly around Kaelen's hands, Roots twisted beneath his feet to anchor him to the unstable surfaces, and Breath teased the acrid air, guiding subtle currents around hazards.
Ekko led the way, moving with fluid agility along catwalks, his small device ticking faintly on his wrist. "Welcome to Zaun," he said, voice echoing through the industrial labyrinth. "This city doesn't forgive mistakes, and neither does its underbelly. You'll need more than raw power to survive down here—you'll need strategy, timing, and adaptation. Can your tri-element mastery handle it?"
Kaelen adjusted his stance, feeling the pulse of the elements. "I've survived forests, urban chaos, and Demacia's battlefield. I can adapt."
A low hiss erupted from a vent to his right, and Kaelen's instincts kicked in. Flow arced around him, forming a thin protective barrier. Roots twisted beneath the cracked floor to stabilize his footing, and Breath swirled to push toxic fumes aside. From the shadows, a gang of Zaunite scavengers emerged, armed with crude firearms and chemical canisters.
"They like to throw surprises," Ekko said, spinning down from a pipe above, staff in hand. "Watch how I move—they'll think they're attacking me, but we'll guide the fight."
Kaelen nodded, pressing palms to ground and air. Flow spiraled to intercept chemical grenades and projectiles, Roots twisted beneath crates and railings to trip or slow enemies, and Breath carried both debris and smoke to confuse and control the battlefield. Every movement was intentional, a blend of offense, defense, and environmental manipulation.
A grenade rolled toward Kaelen, hissing as its fuse burned. Flow shot up a spiraling arc, catching the grenade in a bubble of water that absorbed the explosion. Roots shifted beneath the floorboards, creating a subtle trap that snagged a thug charging from the left. Breath carried debris from the vent above, knocking two attackers off balance.
Ekko moved alongside him, using the chaos as a playground. He darted between machinery, striking enemies with precise blows and disappearing behind steam vents. "Not bad," he said, glancing at Kaelen. "You're bending the city to your will—but you're moving like someone still learning the currents. Let's push that mastery further."
Kaelen exhaled, focusing. He extended his senses through Flow, Root, and Breath, letting the elements anticipate not only attacks but hazards themselves. Molten pipes, collapsing catwalks, and toxic steam were now allies—Flow redirected molten streams safely, Roots anchored unstable walkways, and Breath controlled smoke, wind, and chemical fumes to guide both him and Ekko safely through the labyrinth.
A sudden shout drew Kaelen's attention: a mechanized Zaunite golem, constructed from scrap metal and powered by unstable chemical cores, had activated. Sparks flew as it charged, swinging massive arms toward them. Kaelen's pulse surged. This was a hazard and a combatant, requiring seamless tri-element coordination.
Flow twisted into a spiraling water blade, intercepting the first crushing strike. Roots surged beneath the floor, creating upward spikes to destabilize the golem's footing. Breath twisted the air around them, redirecting steam and sparks, blinding and confusing the mechanical construct. The golem staggered, but its core pulsed violently, threatening a chemical explosion.
"Now!" Ekko shouted. Kaelen focused all three elements into a single coordinated surge. Flow channeled molten and hazardous substances harmlessly away from the outpost, Roots anchored and redirected collapsing debris, and Breath guided smoke and air currents to disorient the golem. With a final twist of Flow, the mechanical core was flooded and short-circuited. Sparks flew, and the golem collapsed into a heap of molten metal and chemicals.
The Zaunite scavengers, seeing their champion fall, fled into the shadows. Kaelen sank to a knee, letting Flow, Root, and Breath settle gently around him. The labyrinth was quiet now, save for the hiss of escaping steam and the distant hum of machinery.
Ekko landed beside him, grinning. "See? This is what I mean. You can survive the chaos, bend it, control it—but that was a single hazard. Zaun will throw dozens at you simultaneously. That's the real test."
Kaelen exhaled, feeling the pulse of the city beneath him, the rhythm of machinery, chemicals, and wind. His tri-element mastery had been tested in industrial, chemical, and mechanized hazards, and he had not only survived, but adapted the environment to his advantage.
"You've got potential," Ekko continued, offering a hand. "But the currents aren't just elements—they're flow, timing, and understanding. If you want to rise higher, you'll need to see beyond raw power. Observe, anticipate, and bend the chaos itself."
Kaelen nodded, gripping Ekko's hand as he stood. Beyond the shadows of Zaun, across Piltover's spires and the sprawling lands of Runeterra, champions, conflicts, and challenges awaited. His journey had carried him from Ionia to Bilgewater, through Demacia, Piltover, and now the heart of Zaun. Each trial shaped him, tested him, and prepared him for true world-shaping mastery.
The green glow of the undercity reflected in his eyes, and Kaelen smiled faintly. The currents had risen, the untethered seed had grown, and he was ready to face whatever chaos, champions, or conflicts lay ahead.